Al-Haadi v04n03

The signs of Qiyamah that have been mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith are fast becoming apparent. Hereunder some Ahadith are mentioned: (Cont. from last Issue)

THE “SHRINKING” OF TIME

Hazrath Anas (radhiallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Qiyamah will not come until time will not shrink. As a result of this a year will seem to be a month while a month will seem to have passed like a week. A week will pass by like a day while a day will be like an hour. An hour will be like a spark of fire (which just flickers and dies)” (Tirmizi).

VIOLATING TRUST

Abu Hurairah (radhiallahu anhu) reports that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “When trust will be violated, await the last day.” A person asked: “How will the trust be violated?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) replied: “When a task will be entrusted to a person who is not capable of accomplishing it, await the last day” (Sahih Bukhari).

Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “The key to Jannah is salaah and the key to salaah is purification”(Mishkaat). The purification in this Hadith primarily refers to wudhu (ablution) but includes the general purity of the body, clothing and place of salaah. This Hadith more than adequately illustrates the extreme importance of Tahaarah (purity) in Deen. Therefore every effort has to be made to save oneself from all forms of impurities. If the key of purity is lost, the key to Jannah will be jeopadized.

MATTER OF CONCERN

In this regard it is a matter of great concern that many Muslims have become accustomed to the habitual use of western style toilets. While in some cases due to injury, illness or infirmity people are forced by their circumstances to resort to the use of western toilets, in most instances the western toilet has become a deliberate first choice. It will be conceeded by any fair minded person that to totally protect the body and clothing from any splashes when using the western toilet requires an extreme amount of care and precaution. It is a laborious task which is difficult to adhere to on a constant basis. Thus those who deliberately and without any need use the western toilets are prone to becoming lax in taking the extra care that is necessary. The body and clothing can then become soiled as a result of which one’s salaah is also affected.

CHILDREN

Another aspect is that of children. When a child will be trained to only use the western toilet, he will always maintain this habit. However, it cannot be expected of the child to undertake the extreme care that is necessary when using the western toilet. Thus he will become lax in refraining from impurities. As a result his salaah, etc. will also be adversely affected.

CONSEQUENCES

Not saving oneself from urine drops has serious consequences. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is reported to have said: “Beware of urine, for verily, the majority of (the cases of) punishment in the grave is because of it (urine).” Once Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) passed by two graves and was informed that the inmates of the graves were being punished in the grave. Informing the Sahaba (R.A.) of the reason for the punishment of one of the inmates of the grave, Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said: “He was not in the habit of staying pure from urine”(Mishkaat).

Perhaps one may personally be careful in the use of the western toilet. However, due to the carelessness of another person, one could become soiled with impurities. For instance suppose a child or even some adult used the toilet and soiled the rim with urine drops. By the time the next person had come to use the toilet, the impurity had dried up. The second person now sits on that soiled toilet seat and due to perspiration, etc., his body is also soiled with the impurity. Thus the Salaah of such a person is also affected.

Besides the above, the use of the eastern toilet or squat pan allows one to relieve oneself in the natural way that has always been known to man. The unnatural way of the western toilet is bound to have negative side-effects on the body. Also, doctors at St. Vincent Hospital and Medical Center in Portland, U.S.A. have found that Gonorrhea bacteria could survive for several hours on a toilet seat (Evening Post - P.E.).

In the light of the above it is thus important that, unless forced by extreme necessity, one should totally avoid the western toilet.

Hazrath Abdullah ibn Khubaib (radhiallahu anhu) narrates: “One dark and rainy night we set out to seek our exalted and eternally blessed Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) and finally we found him. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) asked me to recite. I said: “What shall I recite?” He said: “Make it a constant practice to recite Surah Iklaas, Surah Falaq and Surah Naas (the last three surahs of the Qur’an) thrice daily in the morning and evening and it shall suffice you from all else.”

Commenting on the above Mullah Ali Qari (R.A.) quotes the following statement of Allama Taibi. He writes: “The words in the text of the said Hadith mean that these surahs serve as protection from every mishap. Or it means that one who recites them, if for any reason he is not able to recite anything else, it will suffice for him. He shall remain protected from all possible evils”(Mirqaat, pg.370; vol.4).

People are generally greatly agitated while many also suffer from various superstitions. Some believe they are under the spell of demons while others feel that their businesses are not flourishing because of some magic spell cast over them, etc. At times the hardship is a reality and often it is only imaginary. Nevertheless, people are daily faced with problems and difficulties.

Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has suggested a perfect remedy for all our worries. If we make it our routine to recite the above surahs (which won’t take us more than two or three minutes) we are sure to be immune from all evils. However the benefit of this “medication” to relieve our worries and stress will only be realized when we also stick to the correct “diet” of refraining from sins and disobedience. ( Adapted from the writings of Hazrath Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb [M.Z.]).

Allah Ta’ala declares: “Say (to the Believers) O Muhammad, (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)! If you love Allah, then follow me (Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam). Allah will love youand he will forgive your sins.” This verse alone makes it abundantly clear that to earn the love of Allah Ta’ala and gain salvation in both the worlds, there is only one path - the path of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). This path of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) encompasses every aspect of our lives. From birth to death the beautiful and noble teachings of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) are to be implemented. This is known as the path of the sunnah.

“SMALL SUNNAH”?

As for the sunnah, there is really no such thing as a “small sunnah.” Every sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is worth more than the seven heavens and the seven earths. It is a unanimous view of the Fuqaha (jurists) that to mock or ridicule any sunnah is an act of kufr. Thus the sunnah enjoys an extremely lofty position in Deen.